General Motors has announced that it's working on new technology to help drivers detect pedestrians and bicyclists on congested streets or during poor visibility before the driver notices them. The technology relies on Wi-Fi Direct, which is a peer-to-peer wireless standard that allows devices such as smartphones and tablets to communicate directly with each other without needing a shared access point or network.

Researchers at GM have adopted a method that allows Wi-Fi Direct to be integrated with other sensor-based detection and driver alert systems already available in production vehicles to detect pedestrians and bicyclists that are carrying smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi Direct. GM also plans to develop an app that people who frequently walk or ride bicycles on the road can download and use to help Wi-Fi Direct vehicles identify them.

“This new wireless capability could warn drivers about pedestrians who might be stepping into the roadway from behind a parked vehicle, or bicyclists who are riding in the car’s blind spot,” said Nady Boules, GM Global R&D director of the Electrical and Control Systems Research Lab. “Wi-Fi Direct has the potential to become an integral part of the comprehensive driver assistance systems we offer on many of our Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles.”

The development of a wireless pedestrian detection system is integral to GM's ongoing development efforts for vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems for advanced warning of hazardous and other issues on the road. By using Wi-Fi Direct rather than forcing the car to connect to a mobile network first, devices are able to connect in roughly one second compared to needing 7 to 8 seconds to acquire location information when connecting to a network.

Wi-Fi Direct technology could also allow drivers to securely transfer files such as music or digital address book information between the computer in the home and the vehicle navigation system in the driveway.